If you are a single man, now is the best time to entertain guests, have fun with friends, and live your life. A 2020 study found that 3 out of 5 Americans reported feeling lonely and lacking companionship. It’s a big number—and a trend that was most likely aggravated by the pandemic and the lockdowns and quarantines that ensued.
One of the best things you can do for your social health is to create a home that can welcome guests any time—and one that will allow your family members and friends to feel comfortable. You also don’t need to sacrifice your personality and uniqueness to have a trendy home. You don’t need to fall into the stereotype that people who identify as men are not as interested in home-building or creating a space that makes you feel good about yourself.
If you are a bachelor and want your home to reflect that lifestyle, here are some design tips and tricks for styling a masculine living room.
Bold and moody tones
While 2022 should be the year when people throw away their notions of what is considered masculine and feminine, we also cannot deny that color is one of the best and easiest ways we can establish the kind of personality that the homeowner possesses. If you truly want your living room to have a masculine feel, then choosing the right color palette is your first step.
Consider opting for classic neutral palettes like white, black, and gray because they can work in virtually any space. Just make sure to add some pops of color to break up the monotony of the space, and follow the timeless 60-30-10 color rule in design. It’s a rule that will ensure that your home has cohesion, even if you choose different shades.
About 60 percent should be your main color, which is your walls and bigger pieces of furniture; 30 percent is to be your second or supporting color, which can be the color of the room’s focal point like the fireplace, draperies, bed linens, accent chairs, and other painted furniture pieces; and 10 percent should be your accent color, which can be used for the artwork, throw pillows, and other smaller decorative elements.
Dark leather
Leather is often used by interior designers to give the space a more masculine edge, and rightly so: Leather is one of those timeless materials that can work in just about any type of design style and space, as long as the room is going for a rugged aesthetic. Using leather as one of the main materials is also one of the easiest ways you can make your room feel more like a bachelor pad, so consider choosing a couch that is made of leather, and mix and match the textures by incorporating pillows and throws that have a softer texture and color.
A wide range of accessories
Contrary to popular belief, masculine does not necessarily have to mean minimalist. You can incorporate a wide range of decorative accessories and elements to enforce the design style you’re going for. Here are some ideas you can look into:
- Stoneware
- Pottery
- Statues
- Leather books or ones with vintage hardcover bindings
- Steel pendant lights
Angular shapes
Here is another rule of thumb you need to remember: Softer and curved edges evoke a more feminine look, while angular and sharp edges communicate more of a masculine vibe. This is why when choosing furniture pieces, shelves, and other items for your living room, you need to opt for ones that are leaning towards the latter.
Opt for strong geometric patterns that have sharp edges and clean lines. When looking for area rugs, choose ones that have a clear rectangular shape instead of ones that are a bit curvier and rounder.
Texture mix and match
Just because you want your space to appear more masculine or moodier in tone, it doesn’t mean you have to stick to one kind of texture. The key to achieving a balanced space with plenty of depth is by playing around with seeming contrasting styles to form a cohesive look. Here are the types of textures you can blend to create a unified living room:
- Natural materials like wood and stone with industrial ones like metal and steel
- Brick walls with more contemporary touches like rose gold hardware
Having a space that you can be proud of is key to creating a home that is conducive to entertaining and getting to know people better. Follow these design tips to give your living room a masculine edge, so you never have to feel embarrassed about the prospect of having people over.
